Penetration Difficulties/ Vaginismus
Vaginismus is defined as ‘involuntary vaginal tightness causing discomfort, burning pain, penetration problems, or the complete inability to have intercourse'. It is estimated that 2 - 20% of women are affected; it may start early, when trying to insert a tampon, or happen at first intercourse. Some women can develop Vaginismus later in life, even if they had previously enjoyed pain-free sex.
It is important to stress this is an involuntary response by the body to an anxious and painful situation, but you can learn ways to override this response. As with any condition that can cause chronic, unresolved pain, it should be disclosed to your doctor, investigated and treated, the earlier the better. Women experiencing Vaginismus typically feel sexually inadequate and less womanly, and it is very distressing for both partners.
Sex therapy helps you understand Vaginismus and through identifying the cause, a treatment program can be tailored to overcome the problem. There is a high success rate for treating Vaginismus, and sometimes it is beneficial for other health practitioners, like pelvic floor physios, to be involved. Sex therapy can assist you to develop a pleasurable sexual relationship with your partner.
The Help Sexual Pain section has a range of quality products that may assist your sexual functioning and pleasure.
Painful Sex / Dyspareunia
Dyspareunia is a general term used to describe all types of pain, experienced by both men and women during sexual intercourse. Sexual pain in women has a range of causes, and most women will experience pain during sex from time to time, in certain positions and especially if they are poorly lubricated and / or their arousal is low.
Unresolved pain that occurs during sex should be disclosed to your doctor and investigated, with treatment options varying, depending on the diagnosis. Chronic untreated pain can make sex unenjoyable and unpleasant, and will soon create a negative anticipation of sex.
Trans women can also have difficulties with on-going painful intercourse after gender-reassignment surgery.
I can help you explore what is causing your pain, and have a great network of experienced and sympathetic medical and allied health practitioners that I can refer to. If sex has been painful in the past, people are often tense and jumpy in anticipation of discomfort each time they attempt intimacy. Sex therapy can assist you to develop strategies to re-create a pleasurable sexual relationship with your partner.
The Help Sexual Pain section has a range of quality products that may assist your sexual functioning and pleasure.
Orgasmic Difficulties
Many women present to sex therapy with concerns about orgasms. They aren't the right type, they're not happening often enough or it has become too hard to obtain them. Whether you haven't had one yet or you used to but they've gone away, sex therapy can help you explore the why and how of better arousal and more frequent, more pleasurable orgasms.
We will take the focus off performance, explore any concerns you might have that are holding you back, and learn about techniques and tools that can enhance your pleasure.
The Help her Orgasm section has a range of quality products that may assist sexual functioning and pleasure.